The woman suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.
She has since been identified as Tia Cameron, an administration worker at the Brisbane Club. Queensland premier Steven Miles said on X “our thoughts go out to all those involved”.
I’m saddened to hear the news that a woman has died after a bus was involved in a serious crash in Brisbane CBD this evening.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Forensic Crash Unit would undertake a thorough investigation, including scouring footage from the bus and traffic cameras.
”To the family and friends of Tia Cameron who tragically lost her life, and to everyone impacted, the thoughts, prayers and hearts of Brisbane are with you,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday afternoon.
”What happened in Brisbane last night was a devastating tragedy.
Tia Cameron had just left a beauty salon after having her eyelashes done when she was pinned against the wall of a building by the bus, which had mounted the kerb and struck her from behind. Photo / Nine News
”It has left our entire community in shock.
”I want to assure the people of Brisbane we will find answers,” he told reporters.
The bus driver would not operate any council buses while the crash was under investigation, Schrinner said.
The incident caused chaos near the scene at the intersection of Edward and Adelaide streets, with pedestrians running from the crash site and peak hour traffic diverted. Photo / Nine News
He urged the public not to speculate on the reasons for the crash. ”That will be determined - we will have those answers.”
Council’s Transport for Brisbane divisional manager Samantha Abeydeera said the bus’ brakes were tested in February.
She said she believed council’s fleet was “very safe.
”There was a routine 10,000km testing of the bus last month and now the vehicle will actually go through engineering investigation to ensure there were no mechanical failures,” she said.
”We are convinced that we have a very safe fleet, very safe operators ... we absolutely take the duty to the city very seriously.”
What happened in Brisbane last night was a devastating tragedy.
It has left our entire community in shock.
To the family and friends of the young woman who tragically lost her life, and to everyone impacted, the thoughts, prayers and hearts of Brisbane are with you. pic.twitter.com/3dbwdKoolX
“The bus driver has been operating with us for decades,” she said.
”(They are) a very experienced driver, with a strong performance record.
”People working in the area described their shock as some left flowers at the scene.
”I walk the street almost every day ... I took the bus this morning and definitely sat there and pondered over things,” Minh Phan, the owner of a nearby beauty salon, told ABC News.
Tia Cameron has been identified as the 18-year-old victim of a bus that mounted a footpath in the Brisbane CBD on Friday night. Photo / Instagram
Schrinner described the incident as a truly devastating and heart-breaking scenario.”It was a Friday night - people thinking about what they were doing for the weekend, finishing up work ... this is not something that anyone would anticipate happening,” he said.
”Walking on a busy street and seeing this tragedy, it touches us all, because it could have been anybody.”
